| I am a German member
of the LDS Church by birth and I am working here in the Europe East area
for the Church Educational System (means working with the youth). One colleague
lives in Saratov/Volga and helps me. There are archives in Volgograd, Saratov,
and hopefully in Samara (I don’t know yet). As a Russian he has better
access to those reports. It was incredible to talk with old ladies like Amalie Wiedmann (picture DSC_1056 – last email). She was the only German there left, 85 years old. She was telling us in a broken Russian/German she just returned from Siberia in 1988 during glasnost/perestroika. Apologizing because of her lost German she explained she had to arrange her life with the Russian in Siberia to get food for her kids. DSC 1002 and 1004 is an old lady from DIETAL – her name is Maria Walter, 78 years old = she came back after 18 years Siberia. All the other pictures are with a marvelous lady, Maria Reichel (or Reichelt), 94 years old, also Dietal. She was so wonderful in talking about her husband who died after one year in the “TRUD-ARMY” (Labour-army) in the 40s. She still loves him. I had to give her a hug, tears were running. I smelled, I tasted history, knowing nobody would write down the memories of those remarkable ladies. I hope my job brings me more often to this area. Although it isn’t my history but my wives I feel the same. There are more feelings after seeing the humble Maria’s in Dietal. They blessed me – Maria Reichel had shown me immediately her pictures she had. Just great! Sorry for my words. Best wishes – let’s keep contact. Right now we’re in Salt Lake city visiting our relatives and having vacation. Henry Kosak Area Director Europe
East |
